Senate candidate Bates says lack of political baggage makes him cream of crop

Richmond Banker seeks GOP nod for U.S. Senate

INDIANAPOLIS - It's not what's on his resume that leads Don Bates Jr. to believe he's the cream of the Republican crop of U.S. Senate candidates this year.

It's what isn't there.

"The greatest asset I bring to the table is that I'm not a politician. Hoosiers are frustrated with current politicians," Bates said. "I come straight from Main Street. The greatest asset I have is that I haven't been tainted by the political process."

GOP PROFILES

<IF YOU GO>Republicans will choose their U.S. Senate nominee in the May 4 primary election. This week, the Courier & Press is profiling the five candidates. Here is the schedule:

Today — Don Bates Jr.

Tuesday — Richard Behney

Wednesday — Dan Coats

Thursday — John Hostettler

Friday — Marlin Stutzman </IF YOU GO>

Even though Bates has no experience in elected office, he decided to run against two-term Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh shortly after the 2008 presidential election.

Bates believed President Barack Obama's agenda was going to hurt America, resulting in a backlash against his policies that would lead to a Republican majority in Washington.

"I'm trying to stop this president," Bates said. "I didn't get in politics because I'm trying to build name ID for a future race or climb any ladders. I ran because I believe we can win."

Bayh has dropped out of the race, and the presumptive Democratic candidate is U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth of Evansville. Bates is competing in the May 4 primary against a field of Republicans that also includes plumbing company owner Richard Behney, former U.S. Sen. Dan Coats, former U.S. Rep. John Hostettler and state Sen. Marlin Stutzman.

Bates' decision to run for the upper chamber of Congress surprised Jon Ford, a friend who has known Bates for a decade.

"To file for U.S. Senate was a pretty big jump," said Ford, who also serves as the chairman of Bates' campaign committee. "Once I got over that, knowing him personally and his passion for getting things done, I guess I got pretty excited."

Bates has served in several leadership positions. He was president of the Rotary Club in Richmond, Ind., a member of the board of directors for the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, a member of Junior Achievement of Eastern Indiana, a member of the Lions Club and a member of the board of directors for the Starr Gennett Foundation, which is a Richmond-based group that celebrates Gennett Records and Starr Piano Co.

"What I've tried very hard to do is involve myself in my community and be on as many boards as I possibly can that I believe have a positive impact in our community," he said.

Bates was born and raised in Greensburg, Ind. The sixth-generation Hoosier was the second of four children born to Don and Cheryl Bates. He moved to Columbus, Ind., and attended Bethel Holiness Christian School, graduating in 1987.

From there, he went to the Bible Missionary Institute in Rock Island, Ill., where he graduated in 1991 with a bachelor of theology degree.

Three years after graduating from college, he met his future wife, Amy. The two have been married for 15 years and have two children, Trae and Blake, who are 13 and 11 years old, respectively. They live in Winchester, Ind.

The 40-year-old got a job with Prudential Insurance in February 1995. He went into the financial services industry, and in 1998 he was recruited by AG Edwards. He began managing its Richmond office in October 2000. He is still with the company.

One of Bates' good friends is Claudina McCammack of Muncie, Ind. In fact, Bates refers to her as "the reason I'm in the race."

In February 2009, while looking through the phone book, McCammack happened upon Bates' number and called him. At this time, Bates had not made a decision about whether he was going to enter the race. After talking on the phone for a while with McCammack, she had him convinced.

"He told me, 'Claudina, I'm going to run for the U.S. Senate,'" McCammack said.

From there, McCammack had about 20 people come over to her home in Muncie where Bates made his unofficial announcement that he would run. He made his official announcement a few days later.

Ford said Bates' speaking is definitely a strong point.

"One thing about Don, he's a positive person," he said. "So people admire him because when he gets up to speak, people listen. He has the people's attention when he speaks."

Although political observers consider Bates a long shot, the candidate said he is confident.

"I like where we are in this race right now," Bates said. "Our name ID is growing as we have debates, as we have town hall meetings, as we have candidate forums. So I'm excited about where we are."